The US embassy in Moscow will be taking far fewer visa applicants henceforth

WVN – The U.S. mission in Russia has started reducing the number of visa issuance to Russians stating that ‘Russia’s decision to reduce the United States’ diplomatic presence here calls into question Russia’s seriousness about pursuing better relations’.

Effective immediately, the U.S. embassy in Moscow will be taking far fewer visa applicants from now on. The decision will greatly hurt both countries in the long run.

According to Quartz: The diplomatic stand-off between the Trump administration and the Kremlin has a new casualty: most of the Russians who want to visit the US.

Having been ordered by Moscow to cut its diplomatic staff in Russia from from 1,200 to 455 people, the US State Department said yesterday that it will adjust by giving out a “greatly reduced” number of non-immigrant visas. Students, tourists, and businesspeople will find it much harder to get to America, and none of the US consulates outside Moscow will hold visa interviews. That could mean a nine-hour flight for people living in the Russian far east.

Here’s a press statement by the U.S. Mission to Russia:

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Russia’s decision to reduce the United States’ diplomatic presence here calls into question Russia’s seriousness about pursuing better relations. We will maintain sufficient staff to carry out essential elements of our mission.

Due to the Russian government-imposed cap on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia, all nonimmigrant visa operations across Russia will be suspended on August 23. Operations will resume in Moscow on September 1; visa operations at the U.S. consulates will remain suspended indefinitely. Currently scheduled appointments will be cancelled and applicants will be provided instructions on how to reschedule. Please see our website and the attached Fact Sheet for further details.